Postgraduate Study at York : Mary Barker, PhD in Health Sciences

Postgraduate Study at York

University of York

Would you have any advice for anyone considering postgraduate study and wanting to find out more?

I think the best way to find out what postgraduate study is to talk to current postgraduate students. I made sure to do this before applying to both my Masters and PhD courses. Therefore, I would advise anyone considering postgraduate study to attend one of the virtual open days or other postgraduate events taking place at the university. By talking to current students you are able to get a comprehensive understanding of both the positives and challenges of postgraduate study, making it easier to make an informed decision.

What can you tell us about your experience at York?

I absolutely love living and studying in York. It’s a beautiful city with so much to do, from historical sites to delicious food to exciting drinking spots. As well as being a vibrant city, it is also a peaceful place to live, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The campus is amazing, with a huge range of places to eat and drink, an excellent library and lots of outdoor space. This offers the perfect balance for a postgraduate student, providing a relaxing and peaceful yet happening environment.

How do you find life as a postgraduate at York?

Postgraduate life at York is brilliant. The dedicated Graduate Students Union (GSA) really helps ease students into postgraduate life. As a postgraduate, many students are worried about how easy it will be for them to meet other postgraduates, especially if they are doing a PhD or have a very small cohort of students on their Master’s course. The GSA really helps with this, by arranging the postgraduate welcome week full of diverse events, giving the opportunity for postgraduate students to socialise and meet lots of new people. The support from the GSA continues throughout the year too, with organised events and sports clubs, helping students to build a circle of postgraduate friends. This really helps make postgraduate life easier, and allows for an excellent work-life balance. I would thoroughly recommend prospective postgraduates to study at York, it’s great!